“Thank you,” I whispered, my gaze locked with his. There was something there, something I didn’t recognize. An alluring darkness I’d never noticed before.
Thankfully, food was brought out, the first of three courses, which gave me a moment to compose myself. Remembering my manners, I draped my napkin over my lap, picked up my fork. I poked at the salad, taking small bites although my stomach wasn’t in agreement.
Knox didn’t seem at all affected by my awkwardness. He added more wine to both glasses and watched as I picked at my food.
“So, um … how’s your life?” I prompted, hating to sit in silence.
“It’s good.”
“You still have that fancy house in California?”
“I do, yes. But I spend most of my time in New York.”
“Are you thinking about expanding Delta June’s to New York?”
The question seemed to catch him off guard. I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d guessed his plans or if he hadn’t expected me to know that my father had made him a shareholder in my family’s legacy several years ago. Perhaps my dreams of running Delta June’s one day had been dashed, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t fascinated, listening to every word my father said about it.
“It’s growing, but it’s not my main focus these days.”
“Oh, right.” I took a swallow of wine. “You’ve got other businesses.”
Knox owned Montage Markets. I knew the name was a play on words because his last name started with the same four letters, something his father had come up with when he created the vast enterprise that was credited with being the first of its kind: a combination of grocery and retail all in one place. Over the years it had expanded to be an online retailer and was the largest company in the world to have both online and physical storefronts.
“Several, yes.”
“And those? How are they doing?”
“Very well.” He rested an elbow on the table. “Enough about me, Em. I’d rather talk about you.”
“What is there to talk about?” I commented, sipping more wine. “I do as I’m told.”
“Do you?”
Frowning, I met his gaze. “What does that mean?”
“I saw the bikini.” He smirked and I was sure his green eyes darkened. “Didn’t seem like something on Kitty’s approved list.”
My cheeks warmed as I remembered our encounter by the pool, namely the way he had looked at me, touched me.
“If it’s any consolation, you do look good in … very little.”
Air slammed into my lungs, nearly made me choke, but I managed to contain myself as I stared at my stepbrother.
“Something you might consider though…”
I waited with bated breath for him to finish that sentence.
“While I appreciated seeing your pretty nipples, I’m not sure you want everyone to.”
This time my shock turned to outrage, but I had no idea what to say to him, so I dropped my gaze to my salad, used my fork to spear a chunk of cucumber.
“Does that embarrass you?”
“Of course not,” I snapped, my words revealing the bitter truth.
“Looks like it to me.” Knox leaned forward, grazing my cheek with the back of his finger. “You’re blushing.”
My face flamed with both embarrassment and shame as his hand lowered, settled on mine. I didn’t understand how I could fear the thought of Knox touching me again yet crave it at the same time.
